Seat, footboard, and stringer structure



Jan. 9, 1940. P. w. HUSSEY SEAT, FOOTBOARD, AND STRINGER STRUCTURE FiledJuly 19, 1937 Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATE SEAT, FOOTBOARD, ANDSTRINGER STRUCTURE Philip W. Hussey, North Berwick, Maine ApplicationJuly 19,

3 Claims.

Ihis invention relates to a seat and stringer structure especiallyadapted for use in connection'with portable bleachers.

One ofv the important objects of this invention is the production of asimple and-eflicient means for supporting and anchoring seat and footboards upon the stringers of portable bleachers, which stringers arearranged in parallel relation.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple andefficient bracket for supporting seat and foot boards upon the stringerof a portable bleacher structure in such a manner as to prevent' theboards from tippingup when the occupantsstand up upon the boards.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appearthroughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a series ofseat and foot boards showingthe manner of attaching the seat and'foot boards to the stringers, the

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one end of one of the boards;

Figure 6 is a perspective'view of one of the end plates for the seat andfoot boards, looking at the inner face of the plates;

Figure '7 is an inverted perspective View of a portion of one of theboards, showing the intermediate anchoring strap;

tal" sectional -Figure 8 is-an enlarged horizon view taken on line 8-8ofFigure 1;

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional I view similar to Figure 8,showing a modified form of securing lug for the end plates;

; Figure 10 is a group perspective view showing fragments of adjacentend plates and illustrating said modified type of lug structure;

Figure 11 is an enlarged horizontalsectional view taken on line. ll'-Hof Figure 1. v

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that a plurality ofstringers or beams 13 and 41 are employed,-which preferably extend inparallel relation and are arranged on an incline 1937, Serial No.154,504

with their rear ends elevated. These stringers may be anchored andsupported in any suitable or desired manner without departing from thespirit of the invention although it is preferable to support thestringers. in the manner as disclosed in my previous Patent No.2,061,465, dated November 17, 1936, and relating to Portable bleachers.I v

Each stringer l3 supports a plurality of brackets 26 upon the upper facethereof and the brackets of each stringer will constitute-an efficientseat supporting bracket for supporting the seat boards 21,'constitutingrest members, which seat boards 21 may beof any suitable or de siredstructure but are preferably formed of a wooden board structure. Theseat boards 21 are adapted to span the distance between the brackets andstringers, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Each seat supporting bracket 26 comprises a front vertically extendingseat supporting strut 29 and a bridge plate 3!), as clearly shown'inFigure 3. The bridge plate 30 and supporting strut 29 are preferablywelded; as at 3|, for constituting an integral structure, the bridgeplate 30 being connected to the inner face of the supporting strut 29 ata point sightly below the upper edge of the supporting strut 29 wherebythe upperend of the supporting strut 29 will constitute a snug abutmentforthe seat boards 21. The rear end of the bridge plate 30 is providedwith an upwardly bent finger 32 which constitutes a rear abutment fortheseat 'boards 21, which upwardly extending finger" 32 in combinationwith the bridge plate 30 andthe upper'extrem ity' of the supportingstrjut'2ll constitutes a pocket for supporting the'seat boards 21 in acradle-like manner. The rear end of the bridge plate 3D is preferablywelded as indicated at 33, to the up per, face of the stringer I3 andthe lower end of v the v strut 29 is preferably welded, as indicated at34, to the upper face ofthestringer l3, thereby providing the very,rigid, substantial, and practically integralstructure for supportingthe seat boards 21. I

A plurality of these seat supporting brackets 26 may be arranged inproper spaced relation along the upper face .of the stringer It toprovide ample and comfortable seating arrangement for the seat boards21, In order that these boards 21 may be properly anchored'in positionand be held against slipping, I have provided a specially constructedanchoring means. Each seat board 21 is provided at each end with anangle plate 35 which extends under the lower face of the board 27 andvertically in snug engagement with the end face of the board 21, asclearly shown in Figure 5, thereby constituting an eflicient protectorfor the seat board 2? and supporting the seat board 21 upon the upperface of the bridge plate 3%, as shown. Each angle plate 35 is providedat its forward end with a projecting lug Sli, for fitting in theanchoring aperture 38 formed in the vertically extending strut 29 of theseat supporting bracket 26. In actual practice, two seat boards 2? areplaced upon the bracket 26 so as to have their adjoining ends arrangedin abutting relation, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, andthe respective lugs 36 of the plates 35 extend in pairs through theanchoring apertures 38.

By carefully considering the drawing, it will be seen that a very simpleand efiicient locking means has been provided for attaching the boards2'! to the seat board supporting brackets 26, and that these wedginglugs 36 will constitute an efiicient means for binding the seat boardsin position against lateral displacement and will also tend to tie theentire structure together in view of the fact that the seat boards willspan the distance between the stringers, as shown. At any suitable ordesired location between the anchored ends of the seat board 2?, may becarried a plurality of securing members or straps 39 which may besecured to the under face of the seat board 27 for fitting in theupwardly extending brackets 45 carried by an adjacent stringer 4|, thestrap 39 being provided with a projecting tongue 42 to fit in the squarehole 33 formed in the upper end of the bracket 48 and these straps 38are preferably mounted in the center of the seat boards 27. The brackets69 are similar to the brackets 26. This structure will constitute anefi'icient tying means at the center of the seat board for facilitatingthe tying of the entire structure together. The strap 39, as Well as theplates 35, may lie fiush with the face of the board if desired, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The angle iron end on the seat board previously described andillustrated in Figures 2 and 5, is an important feature in that it has atriple function; first, it keeps the seat boards from splitting in theusual rough handling; second, it holds the seat boards in place with theassistance of the strap 39; and third, this structure assists in tyingthe adjoining stringers together throughout the entire length of thestructure acting as a top cord of the truss and preventing wear of thewood at the bearing points. This structure also permits the seat boardsto be connected without the necessity of overlapping at their bearingpoints, which, for safety is a very important feature.

In carrying out my invention, I also provide a plurality of foot boardhanger brackets M, which brackets are substantially U-shaped information and are hung from the lower face 45 of the string ers. Thesefoot board hanger brackets are preferably arranged or located betweenthe seat board supporting brackets 25, or in other words are arranged instaggered relation thereto 50 that the foot boards 46 which alsoconstitutes rest members may be supported in proper relation withrespect to the seat boards 21. The foot boards 45 may be narrower thanthe seat boards, if desired, as shown in Figure 4. The foot boards 46are provided with angle plates 41 similar to the plates 35, which plates41 are provided with projecting lugs 48 similar to the lugs 36, whichlugs 48 snugly fit within the apertures 49 formed in the front portionof the brackets 44. The foot boards are supported upon the brackets inthe manner similar to the seat boards, the ends of the adjoining footboards abutting and their respective lugs 48 fitting in pairs throughthe apertures 49 of the respective brackets 44 in the same manner as isshown in detail in Figure 8 with respect to the seat boards.

In Figures 9 and 10, I have shown a modified type of end plate structurewhich may be used if desired with the seat and foot boards wherein theplates 59 are constructed similarly to the plates 35, lugs 55, however,being provided with their outer faces bevelled in order to permit thelugs to be wedged tightly through the receiving apertures 53 formed inthe supporting brackets E i, the brackets being the same as those shownin Figure 3.

"It should be understood that changes in the detail construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be employed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, so long as these changes fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality ofsupporting stringers arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation,rest member supporting brackets suspended below the stringers, the restmember supporting brackets being substantially U-shaped in formation,the rest member supporting brackets having apertures formed therein,angle plates, rest members supported by said brackets, said angle platesfitting over the ends of the rest members and provided with projectingmeans fitting in the apertures for locking the rest members upon thebrackets against lateral shifting movement.

2. In a structure of the class described comprising a rest membersupporting bracket, said rest member supporting bracket having anupstanding arm at its front end formed with an aperture, rest membershaving their ends supported upon said bracket and arranged in abuttingrelation to each other, each rest member having an angle plate at eachend extending over ends of the rest members fitting within saidapertures and having wedging fit therein for locking said rest membersin position.

3. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality ofsupporting stringers arranged in spaced substantially parallel relation,rest member supporting brackets having vertical walls carried by thestringers, rest members having side edges supported by the brackets,said brackets having apertures formed in their vertical walls,wedge-shaped lugs fixedly secured to said rest members and projectingoutwardly from the side edges of the rest members wedging in saidapertures and locking the rest members upon the brackets against lateraland vertical shifting movement.

PHILIP W. HUSSEY.

